Psst! Looking for the TL;DR?

• Consider the type of room you're decorating, as this will impact how the art feels in the space
• Conversely, consider the art you're using, as this will impact the feel of the room
• Make sure to factor in your budget - the larger the print, the more expensive it will be
• Make sure you consider the size of your frame, as well

 

Have you been looking for a gift or some new wall decor? Did you finally find the perfect art print to fit your personality and overall style? Great! Now all you have to do is buy the art print, right?

Wait… what size should you get?

If you’ve been wondering which print size to get, and even which style of print (canvas, pre-framed, fine art paper, etc), then I'm here to help. 

Think About the Room 

Different rooms in your home have different styles of decor, right? The more open, or “public” areas, if you will, more often have big, noticeable pieces hanging on the walls. This is because if people are gonna be around often, the art print has to actually be big enough for folks to see it! 

Or, conversely, if you’re looking to decorate a bedroom or bathroom space, you want something smaller. And not just because it needs to fit in the room. You want it to feel more intimate/unobtrusive. Something that feels like it’s meant just for you, or something that isn’t overwhelming or annoyingly obvious. I mean, who wants a giant, cartoon rooster print staring them down in the bathroom? 

Consider the Feel

The type of room should help to inform which sized art print you should get, but so should the feel, or ~vibe~, that you’re going for. 

For instance, lots of people create a mosaic of smaller prints (called a “gallery wall”) and photos on their living room wall, so that it looks like one giant piece of art. This is perfect, because the living room is the place where all your family and friends are going to gather together (either there or the dining room, because, ya know, food). All the small prints and photos clustered together mimic the feel of all the people clustered together, which creates a very cosy, intimate atmosphere. 

On the other hand, one large, staple piece has the ability to tie the whole room together, or give you direction on how to decorate. Pick an art print that you love first, and use the color scheme of that art print to decide on things like throw blankets, pillow cases, flowers, and small knick-knacks. 

Think About Your Budget

Ya’ll, large prints - canvas or otherwise - are expensive. So while they can be very much worth it, you may not be able to afford it right now. Smaller prints though, even when bought in large quantities or sets, are significantly cheaper. If you’re feeling a little budget conscious right now, but don’t want to keep your walls looking sparse until you have enough saved up for that statement piece, smaller art prints can be good for in the meantime. 

And you don’t need to overdo it, either. Just two or three art prints. Maybe a set, maybe just in the same style, tastefully arranged on the wall, is perfect. And then, in a few months or a year or so, you’ll not only have the money to buy that gigantic, gorgeous piece of artwork you’ve been dreaming of, but you’ll also have those little pieces you don’t need anymore that you can give to friends as gifts!

Don’t Forget to Consider the Frame Size!

If you are planning on framing your art print, then you’ll need to take that into account. You might take all the measurements in all the ways, order your print, and decide it looks like the perfect size for its designated space!... Until you put it in the frame. 

This is an easy-to-overlook, but essential tip to keep in mind when comparing wall dimensions to art print dimensions. 

Okay, But What About Specifics?

As someone who sells art prints myself, here are some common sizes I’d recommend for particular areas:

Nightstand/Shelf: 4”x5”, 5”x7”, to 8”x10” at the largest. You want the artwork to fit, after all! Miniature sized art prints like these are also excellent options for gallery walls. 

Bathroom/Office/Small Walls: Anything between 8”x10” and 10”x24”

Open Rooms/Bedrooms/Accent Walls: 18”x24” - 30”x40”

For the most in-depth comparison, I’d suggest checking out this lovely, detailed article by Nations Photo Lab. 

Conclusion

Overall, there are several factors to keep in mind when trying to decide which sized print to get. Artwork as home decor isn’t something to be considered lightly. It’s going to define the feel of your whole dang home, for crying out loud! But when you do get things arranged just right, your home can finally start feeling like what homes are for - a quiet refuge, and a place to rest and recover from the day's activities. 

Until next time!

Lydia